Potain MD 689 M40 completes work on French zoo ‘BioDome’

A Potain MD 689 M40 top-slewing crane has completed work on the new ‘BioDome’ at the famous ZooParc de Beauval in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher, France. Work began in March 2018 after French contractor CMF Groupe rented the top-slewing crane from established crane rental and sales company Sofral, part of the Neremat Group.

The MD 689 M40 was one of 50 new Potain cranes to join the Neremat fleet last year. It was launched in 2018 and is the biggest of the Potain MD CCS range. The model installed at the ZooParc de Beauval featured a 60-m jib and could lift up to 40 t.

Sofral worked closely with CMF Groupe in the run-up to the project, helping the contractor choose the most suitable crane for the job, as well as coming up with a solution to an accessibility challenge, which involved erecting the crane in the center of the dome.

When opened, the BioDome will accommodate 3,000 visitors and house Komodo dragons, hippos and manatees.